They were found guilty of breaching the country’s official secrets act in June and sentenced to seven years behind bars.

Lawyers launched an appeal against the decision on Monday.

In a statement, Reuters editor-in-chief Stephen Adler said: “We filed an appeal today on behalf of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo because the trial court’s ruling was wrong.

“In condemning them as spies, it ignored compelling evidence of a police set-up, serious due process violations, and the prosecution’s failure to prove any of the key elements of the crime.

“Contrary to Myanmar law, it shifted the burden of proof from the prosecution to Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo.

“Now is the time for Myanmar to uphold its stated dedication to rule of law, freedom of the press, and democracy by ordering the release of our colleagues, whether on appeal or by granting the families’ request for a pardon.”

The decision to imprison the pair following a widely criticised trial has attracted ire from the international community, including the United Nations.

Wa Lone has also authored children’s books. His latest book, written behind bars, is in both Burmese and English. It follows Jay Jay the Journalist, a boy reporter who investigates a sudden sickness among animals in his village.